This past spring, we hosted College Perspectives—a virtual event series created by students, for students. From February through April, we brought together inspiring college student panelists from around the world who are leading efforts to fight plastic pollution in their communities and on their campuses.
The series was designed to shine a light on the diverse paths students can take to continue making an impact beyond high school. We believe students are the key to a sustainable future, and there’s no better way to inspire the next generation than by showcasing peers who are already leading the charge.
Whether through community organizing, groundbreaking research, or creative “artivism,” our panelists demonstrated the many ways young people are tackling the plastics crisis and building meaningful solutions. These conversations offered a chance to ask questions, spark ideas, and explore how to turn passion into purpose after graduation.
Missed the events? You can watch the full panel recordings below.
SERIES SCHEDULE:
This panel features three incredible college students and recent graduates who are addressing plastic pollution through innovative and interdisciplinary research. From ecological studies to cultural analysis, this panel will highlight how science and sociology intersect to address the global plastic crisis. Join us to discover how interdisciplinary research can be an important tool in understanding plastics and their impact on communities at a deeper level. The panelists include:
Hannah Sherrod: Master’s student studying Marine Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter in England
Chloe McKenna: Recent graduate, MS in Marine Systems and Policies at the University of Edinburgh whose thesis was researching the socio-ecological and cultural impacts of marine plastic pollution on Scottish island communities
Trina Miller: Recent graduate with a BS in Biology whose research was monitoring marine debris in the rocky intertidal zone in San Pedro, CA
WATCH RECORDING
In the second event of our “College Perspectives” series, we’ll showcase the inspiring stories of three student leaders who are raising awareness, fostering education, and creating culturally specific solutions to address the plastics crisis. Meet the panelists:
Diego Arreola Fernández: Originally from Mexico and currently attending college in Canada, Diego co-founded Green Speaking, an organization that plans events with the goal of empowering youth to become climate action leaders
Pius Seda: Founder of Greenify Global, Pius is a college student in Malawi organizing local workshops and conferences for youth as part of a larger United Nations program
Sulaiman Abubakar Umar: Based in northeastern Nigeria, Sulaiman organizes community events and culturally specific handouts to raise awareness about plastic pollution in his rural community
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For the grand finale of our “College Perspectives” series, we’re diving into a powerful pathway for environmental advocacy: the arts. This event explores how creativity and activism can inspire change, raise awareness, and foster a deeper connection to the environment that goes beyond the traditional sciences. Featuring a panel of inspiring college students, this discussion will showcase how artivism—whether through visual art, performance, storytelling, or other creative outlets—can be a transformative force in addressing the plastics crisis and beyond. Meet the panelists:
Rae Landriau: Rae is a Climate Education Facilitator with Youth Climate Lab based in Ottawa, Canada leveraging the sciences and the arts to inspire lasting change in youth
Shamsuddeen Abdulkareem: Founder of Eco Poets, a student led project aimed at using poetry as a tool to change the mindsets of his community members around climate change and other environmental issues in and beyond Kano State, Nigeria
Lisa Tenorio: Lisa graduated with an MFA in Dance from St. Mary’s College of California in 2019. Her graduate work researches the connection between the human body and the ocean through the lens of movement and dance. As a native CHamoru from Guam, her work explores the significance of the ocean in the lives of the CHamorus and how their perspective might inform a more profound human-ocean relationship worldwide.
WATCH RECORDING
